Ravens Notebook: Bryant McKinnie working with first team

Bryant McKinnie lined up in a familiar position with the Baltimore Ravens during Monday's practice -- at left tackle with the first team.

McKinnie, who's been with the second unit after reporting five days late to camp, has been competing to regain his old job. With the increased reps he received on Monday, it's not out of the question to see McKinnie starting this Thursday against Jacksonville.

"[McKinnie's] had a tempo and a rhythm," coach John Harbaugh said. "It's just a matter of practicing. It's like anybody else, he's practicing well. I think he'd be the first to tell you he's not there -- none of them are there yet. But he's practicing well and he's in the mix."

Monday's first team line consisted of McKinnie, LG Bobbie Williams, C Matt Birk, RG Marshal Yanda and RT Michael Oher.

The offensive line will be asked to hurry up to the line of scrimmage quicker this season, which requires better conditioning. Birk said McKinnie's pace has picked up and noted improvement with McKinnie throughout the course of training camp.

"He's a little bit older, and you learn some things and figure some things out.," Birk said. "Bryant's done a good job of being in shape. I think he's moving as well as I've seen him move in a long time on the backside, getting his backside blocks and backside cutoffs."

Worried? Not Harbaugh: In Baltimore's first two preseason games, the secondary gave up 109 yards to Atlanta WR Julio Jones and 111 yards to Detroit WR Calvin Johnson. Both wideouts scored a touchdown.

While concerns have been raised, Harbaugh explained the Ravens didn't gameplan for either team.

"We didn't mix our coverages at all," Harbaugh said. "We just put those guys out there and let them play. That's what we want to do in training camp and the preseason. We just want to develop the technique. If there are things you struggle with, we want to find that out. It's only going to make us better."

Playing it cool: Running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery stated the race for the No. 2 running back spot remains wide open for either Bernard Pierce, Damien Berry, Anthony Allen or Bobby Rainey.

But from an outsider's perspective, it would appear Pierce has a lead on the other three. Pierce has been the first running back to rotate in to spell Ray Rice and had a strong showing against Detroit this past Friday. Pierce's vision and ability to fall forward after contact were among the qualities that have stood out to the coaching staff.

"When he got out there he showed a reckless abandonment that we wanted him to be, that he showed in college," Montgomery said. "That kind of excited everyone. Up to that point we hadn't seen it. We knew we had it in him and he had the potential but he hadn't showed it. But we saw it on game day and that's what you want to see."

Cut day approaching: With the first roster cuts coming soon after Thursday's preseason game, Harbaugh said some of the younger players are beginning to feel "tense."

"Guys want to make this team," he said. "They want to be on this team, they want to be a part of this. Everybody can't be. If they can't be a part of this they want to be a part of a team somewhere else. It's time now and they want to put good tape out there."

The first go-around for cuts is on Aug. 27, which will cut the roster down to 75 players. Cutting to 53 players will take place on Aug. 31.

Injury report: WR David Reed (ACL), LB Josh Bynes (vertebrae), OLB Terrell Suggs (Achilles), OL Jah Reid (calf), TE Ed Dickson (shoulder), TE Dennis Pitta (hand), DE Pernell McPhee (death in family) and DT Ryan McBean (broken ankle) did not practice Monday.

OLB Sergio Kindle (shoulder stinger) and S Sean Considine (undisclosed) were in non-contact red jerseys.

Harbaugh didn't specifically say what happened to Considine, but said doctors told the organization he was "dinged."

Follow Ravens reporter Jason Butt on Twitter: @CBSSportsNFLBAL and @JasonButtCBS.